Liquid refrigerating and dispensing system



Sept. 19,1933. J. AsKlN LIQUID REFRIGERATNG AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FiledApril 1, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l BY Y ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1933. J. AsKlNLIQUID REFRIGERATING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed April l, 1935 5Sheets-Sheet 2 flgg. 2.

INVENTOR Jose/oh 4s/(m ATTORN Sept. 19, 1933.- J. AsKlN LIQUIDREFRIGERATING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed April l, 1955 3 She'ets-Sheet3 f Y i INVENTOR dose/0A #5A/m ATTORNEY if;

Patented Sept. 19, i933 uNiTEn STATES LIQUID REFRHGERATING AND DISPENSNGSYSTEM Joseph Askin, Buffalo, N. Y., assigner to Fedders ManufacturingCompany, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application April l, 1933. Serial No. 663,970

8 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to a liquid refrigerating and dispensing system,and it has particular reference to apparatus for cooling a flowingstream of liquid and concurrently applying to such liquid sucientpressure to cause the liquid to new.

According to the present invention, means are provided for dispensing abeverage which is located at a lower point than the dispensing faucet,

1o and simultaneously applying to such beverage a refrigerating orcooling fluid so that the beverage, upon reaching the point of delivery,is also brought to the desired serving temperature. Such means comprisea refrigerating machine of the compressor-condenser-expander type, inwhich a volatile refrigerant, such as sulphur dioxide or methylchloride, is circulated through a compressor, condenser, and expanderand then baci: to the compressor, with which machine is 2d combined abeverage dispensing system including a liquid reservoir disposed at alow point and a dispensing line in heat exchange relationship with theexpander. The refrigerating machine is further utilized to applycompressed air or other motivating fluid to the beverage in thecontaining tank disposed at a low point, so that, as refrigerationproceeds with the withdrawal of the beverage, pressure is concurrentlycreated and applied to force the beverage through the system.

The various principles, objects, and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent from the following description of a specificembodiment, illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pressure apparatus, and,

Fig. 3 is an end viewof the parts shown in Fig. 2.

The liquid cooling and dispensing apparatus includes a source orreservoir for the liquid to be dispensed, such as a barrel l0, to whichis .connected a liquid feed line or conduit ll extending to a dispensingpoint such as a faucet 12, which may be assumed to be at a higher pointthan the barrel, so that pressure on the liquid is required to force thebeverage through the conduit and to the faucet. At some suitable pointbetween the barrel 10 and the faucet 12, the conduit 11 is formed into acoil 13 which is disposed in heat exchange relationship with arefrigerating coil 14, so that the beverage is cooled during its flowthrough the dispensing system. The coils 13 and 14, as illustrated inFig. l, are in the form of internesting helices, but it will beunderstood that such formation is not essential to the practice of theinvention, and that by reference to beverage and refrigerant coils, itis simply intended to describe a type of heat exchange apparatus, andnot a specific form.

Liquid refrigerant is fed to the refrigerant coil 14 through a supplyline 15, through an ex pansion valve 16, the operation of which may becontrolled by a thermostat 17 which is in contact with a portion of therefrigerant return or suction line 18. The thermostatic expansion valvemay be of any known type, whereby, in operation, refrigerant is admittedthrough the valve if the demands of the system increase, or is cut offfrom the coil if a suiliciently low temperature has been reached. Theoperation of the expansion valve in supplying regulated quantities ofrefrigerant in response tc the demand is therefore approximatelyproportional to the amount of beverage owing through liquid coil 13.

The beverage is forced through the dispensing lines from the barrel l0by uid pressure, such as compressed air, which is supplied to the top ofthe barrel through a pipe line 19, from a source hereinafter described.As will be hereafter pointed out, the air pressure on the barrel is heldwithin fairly close limits, so that the rate of flow of beverage throughthe conduit ll will be substantially the same for any given opening ofthe faucet l2. The barrel itself is, in furtherm ance of such purpose,made substantially air tight, so that the air pressure will not beunduly dissipated.

Referring now to the lower portion of Fig. l, and to the remaininggures, there will now be described the means for supplying refrigerantto the refrigerant coil 14 and air pressure to the barrel 10. Thesemeans are advantageously mounted on a base frame 20, which may be of anydesired shape or size to support the Various elements and to provide acompact and readily installed assembly. An electric motor 2l, which isutilized as a driving member, is adjustably mounted at one end of theframe 20, adjustability being effected through a screw 22. The shaft ofthe motor 21 is provided with two pulleys 22 and 24, for driving arefrigerant compressor and an air pump, hereinafter described, and a fan25 is also mounted on the end of the shaft to circulate air through arefrigerant condenser. The refrigerant compressor 27 is mounted on thebase 20 remote from the motor 21, and it is provided with a drivingwheel 28 which is connected by a belt 29 to the motor pulley 23. Thecompressor 27, which is here illustrated as being of the reciprocatingpiston type, is provided with a discharge line `31 for conducting warmcompressed refrigerant to a condenser 32 mounted on the base 20 with itsseveral convolutions in front of the motor fan 25. The discharge end onthe condenser 32 is connected, by means of a pipe line 33 to arefrigerant receiving tank 34, mounted under the base 20, as best shownin Figs. 1

and 3. i y

The receiver 34 is connected, by means of a pipe line 35 and a coupling36, to the refrigerant coil supply line 15, and the compressor 27 isconnected, on its intake side, to the refrigerant return or suction line18. As the motor is operated to drive the compressor, refrigerant iscompressed, transmitted to the condenser 32 for cooling andliquefaction, and delivered to the receiver 34 for storage and supply tothe expander 14. Here the liquid refrigerant is vaporized to expand andabsorb heat, and the spent vapors are withdrawn into the compressorthrough the suction line, for recompression and circulation anew.

Mounted on the base 20 intermediate the motor 21 and the compressor 27is an air pump 41, herein shown as of the reciprocating piston type,which is driven from the motor pulley 24 through a belt 42 extendingaround the pump pulley 43. Air is withdrawn from the atmosphere througha suitable dust filter or dehydrator (not shown) for compression anddelivery to a pipe line 44, connected to the discharge side of the airpump, which communicates with a storage tank or reservoir 45. Interposedbetween the discharge port of the air pump and the delivery line 44,(or, alternatively, disposed on the tank 45), is a relief valve 46,which may be adjusted, through a screw 47, to open at any predeterminedpressure. By means of the relief valve, the available air pressure inthe tank 45 may be held below any desired and predetermined value, andhence a constant air pressure for the dispensed beverage is practicallyassured. It is advantageous to include the relief valve, with a slightlyoversized air pump, in lieu of using an air pump whose capacity is suchas to deliver just the theoretical amount of compressed air, computed onthe amount of liquid to be dispensed and the demands on therefrigerating system for cooling. What is desired is enough compressedair to feed the liquid under a substantially uniform head, so that afair degree of correlation between amount of liquid dispensed andrefrigerant expended may be obtained. In obtaining this result inpractice, it has been found desirable to provide the air relief valvefor the purposes just described.

Air escaping from either the pump 41 or the receiver 45 through therelief valve 46 may be utilized for aiding in the condensation ofrefrigerant. To this end, the discharge side of the valve 46 isconnected to a pipe line 48, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) which terminatesin front of the convolutions of the condenser 32. Excess air escapesthrough a plurality of apertures 49 in the end of the pipe 48, to blowagainst and through the condenser, thereby increasing the coolingeffect. While the pipe 48 is shown here as being a single pipe, it willbe obvious that a number of parallel pipes may be used, depending on thequantity of air available and the amount of cooling desired by thismeans.

The compressed air in the tank-45 is withrestava drawn through a pipeline 51, provided with a shut-ofi valve 52, through a flexible conduit53. to the pipe 19 which enters the space above the beverage in thereservoir 10. If desired, a filter 54 may be interposed in the pipe 53,to block the passage of moisture, oil, or residual dust that may be inthe compressed air. It has been found that with a dust filter interposedat some point in the air path, as, for example, at the intake side ofthe air pump 41, the tank 45 itself may be relied upon as a means forseparating moisture or oil from the compressed air. To this end, it willbe observed from the drawings that the tank 45 is made of appreciablesize, and the inlet and outlet lines are spaced from each other. Anyatmospheric moisture which may condense due to the compression, or anydrops of oil picked up by the air in its passage through the pump 41,will therefore have an opportunity to deposit in the tank 45. It hasbeen found that the separated material collecting in the tank 45 is ofslight bulk, compared with the tank capacity, and no special meansappear to be required to remove the deposits, other than a suitabledrain valve, which4 may be included as desired. Other forms ofseparators and filters may, of course, be employed in lieu of the simpletank shown in the drawings.

The operation of the refrigerant compressor 27 and the air pump 41 areboth made dependent upon the refrigerating demand, by provided controlinstrurnentalities for the motor 21 affected by the condition of therefrigerant in the expander 14. The electric motor is supplied withelectricity through a pair of conductors 61 lead-- ing to a controllerswitch box 62, in which are disposed suitable electromagnetic devicesconstituting a switch for opening and closing the motor circuit. Currentpasses to the motor through an electrical conductor 63 when the controlswitch 62 is closed. As the current may be quite heavy, depending uponthe size of motor used in the system, it is desirable to provide aremote control for the switch 62. Such control is obtained by shunting aportion of the main line ourrent through a suitable resistance to asecond electromagnetic switch, indicated at 65, which is automaticallyoperated by the pressure (or temperature) in the refrigerant suctionline. The

wires for conducting current to the switch 65 may be encased in aconduit 66.

The construction of the switch 65 is such that, under the influence ofrefrigerant suction pressure, an electric circuit is closed or opened,which circuit, in turn, governs the flow of current through theelectromagnet in the switch 62, controlling the main line circuit.Control switches of this type are well known, and hence detaileddescription of the structural and electrical features thereof are deemedunnecessary here. It may be noted, however, that the suction line 18communicates through the compressor intake with a pipe line 67, wherebyrefrigerant pressure is applied to the switch 65. As

this pressure increases, due, for example, to

drawal, through the suction line 18, of spent vapor in the expander 14,and when the pressure drops to a desired value, the switch 65 isautomatically opened, to open the motor circuit and discontinue theoperation. While the compressor isoperating, the pump 4l'is also in useto compress lair for the beverage in the tank 10, thereby replenishingthe supply used up in forcing liquid through the coil 13, or aiding incooling refrigerant in the condenser 32. As beverage flows from thebarrel 10 under the pressure of the air, heat is absorbed by refrigerantin the coil 14, and the expansion valve 16 is opened or closed inresponse to the demand.for sufficient refrigerant to cool the beverageto the desired temperature. Accordingly, a system is provided forsimultaneously cooling and dispensing beverages or other liquids, inwhich the several parts are so interrelated as to achieve the desiredresult with a high degree of effectiveness.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the variouselements of the system such as the compressor, pump, switches, and thelike, may be of well known types, and that the parts as herein shown aresubject to various rearrangements or changes. I also desire to point outthat I do not claim as my invention these separate elements, but what Ido claim is the system for cooling and dispensing liquids, as set forthin the following claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a beverage cooling and dispensing systemincluding a refrigerant expander and a beverage coil in heat exchangerelationship therewith, a source of beverage disposed at a lower pointthan the said coils, and a conduit for leading beverage from said sourceto said beverage coil, of means for supplying refrigerating fluid tosaid refrigerant expander and fluid pressure to said beverage source,said means comprising a compressor for refrigerant, a conduit extendingfrom the compressor to said expander, a motor for driving saidcompressor, means responsive to the condition of refrigerant in saidrefrigerant expander for operating said motor and thereby controllingthe delivery of refrigerant to said expander, an air pump, a conduitleading from the discharge side of said air pump to said beverage sourceto apply fluid pressure to beverage contained therein, and a drivingconnection between said motor and said air pump, whereby the operationof the air pump is governed. by the thermal condition in saidrefrigerant coil.

2. In combination in a beverage cooling and dispensing system, abeverage reservoir, a conduit extending from said reservoir to a higherpoint for delivery of said beverage, an air pump, a conduit extendingfrom the discharge side of said pump to said reservoir to apply fluidpressure to said beverage to cause the upward flow thereof, arefrigerant compressor, a refrigerant expander in heat exchangerelationship with said beverage delivery conduit, whereby beverageflowing through said conduit is cooled before delivery, electricallyoperated means for driving the pump and compressor, an electric circuitfor supplying electrical energy to said means, a thermostatic switch foropening and closing said circuit, and means affected by the thermalcondition of the refrigerant adjacent said expander for controlling saidswitch, whereby the operation of said pump and compressor are jointlygoverned by the thermal condition of said refrigerant.

3. In combination in a beverage cooling and dispensing system, abeverage reservoir, a conduit extending from said reservoir to a higherpoint for delivery of said beverage, an air pump, a conduit extendingfrom the discharge side of said pump to said reservoir to apply uidpressure to said beverage to cause the flow thereof, a refrigerantcompressor, a Vrefrigerant expander in communication with the dischargeside of said compressor disposed in heat exchangerelationship with saidbeverage conduit, a common drive means for said pump andcomprcssor,means responsive to the thermal condition of said expanderfor controlling the operation of said drive means, and a pressure reliefvalve in said conduit from said pump to said reservoir, whereby thepressure on said beverage is maintained substantially constant.

4. In combination in a beverage cooling and dispensing system, abeverage reservoir, a conduit extending from said reservoir to a higherpoint for delivery of said beverage, an air pump, an air reservoir incommunication with the discharge side of said air pump, a conduitextending from said air reservoir to said beverage reservoir, a pressurerelief valve connected to said air reservoir to maintain the air thereinbelow a predetermined pressure, a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerantexpander in heat exchange relationship with said beverage deliveryconduit and in communication with said compressor, a common drive meansfor said compressor and said air pump, and means responsive to thethermal conditions in said .expander for controlling said drive means.

5. In combination in a beverage cooling and dispensing system, abeverage reservoir, a conduit extending from said reservoir to a higherpoint for delivery of said beverage, an air pump, an air reservoir, aninlet conduit extending from the discharge side of said pump to said airreservoir, a conduit extending from a point in said air reservoir remotefrom said inlet conduit to said beverage reservoir, a filter interposedin the air path leading through the intake side of the pump, saidconduits and reservoir, said air reservoir and lter providing means forseparating impurities from the air, a refrigerant compressor, arefrigerant expander in communication with the discharge side of saidcompressor, said expander being in heat exchange relationship with saidbeverage delivery conduit, common drive means for said pump andcompressor, and means responsive to the thermal condition of saidexpander for controlling the operation of said drive means.

6. In combination in a beverage cooling and dispensing system, abeverage reservoir, a conduit extending from said reservoir to a higherpoint for delivery of said beverage, an air pump, a conduit extendingfrom the discharge side of said pump to said beverage reservoir to applyuid pressure to the beverage, a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerantcon-denser, said condenser being in uid communication with the dischargeside of said compressor, a refrigerant expander in heat exchangerelationship with said beverage delivery conduit, said expander being influid communication with said condenser, a common drive means for theair pump and the compressor, a pressure relief valve in said airdischarge conduit, and a pipe line extending from the discharge side ofsaid pressure relief valve to said condenser,

said pipe line being open at its end adjacent the v condenser to directrelieved air through said condenser to cool the refrigerant.

'7. In a liquid cooling and dispensing system including a liquid conduitand a cooling unit therefor, a refrigerant circuit for the cooling unitincluding a compressor and an air cooled condenser, an air pump, apressure tank supplied thereby and communicating with said conduit, apreswarms said base, an air cooled condenser mounted on the base, arefrigerant circuit for the cooling unit including the refrigerantcompressor and con-V denser, a pressure tank mounted on the base andcommunicating with said pump and said liquid conduit, a pressure reliefvalve communicating with said tank and adapted to vent'air to theatmosphere when a predetermined pressure is attained therein, and meansfor directing the vented air through said condenser. y

JOSEPH ASKIN.

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